Bad Dog. Bad Parents. How Do I Tell Them I NEVER Want to Sit for Them Again?

Immediate Sanity Saving Solution First: Since you've already told the pet owner/client what's happening, You can initiate a call to rover and ask them if they can help you find a replacement sitter to transfer the remainder of the stay. Of course, that will reduce what you receive, but if the potential damage and liability is high, it's worth it. If they can't find anyone, then strive to tire this dog out with Lots of exercise, so it will rest/sleep.

When the owners return for their dog, you can say something nice and generalized without much elaboration, such as he's so cute, however you're not the right match for future stays, and support can help the owner find other sitters who may be a better fit.

Going forward, when someone wants to book boarding or house sitting service, the sitter needs to evaluate the situation and really confirm that this is the right match for all. This becomes more important when you have your own pets (especially a mix of canines/puppies and felines/kittens) or other pets who will also be sharing your company and vying for attention. It's lovely, but completely unrealistic, to think that animals who are strangers to each other will naturally get along from the start. Also, it's almost Always worth the time to get to know the owner's pet(s) well during a Meet & Greet. Ask yourself how do you think a high energy dog would behave after locked up for 8 hours. Would that fit well in your home? I'm guessing No, which leads to next suggestion. Before you agree to multiple days & nights with a dog you're not sure is a match, talk to the owner about doing a test service (it could be just 1 night) before they leave town to ensure it's a good match.